Growing a great team: Kiwiflora Nurseries

Teamwork maximises shared knowledge in the workplace. That’s definitely the case at Kiwiflora Nurseries. Nalin Gooneratne, managing director of the nurseries, has nothing but praise for his team of horticulturalists and salespeople.     Nalin Gooneratne – MANAGING DIRECTOR: “It’s the knowledge each member of our team brings that makes our business successful,” says Nalin. […]

Growing good health: Terra Viva

There’s plenty to love about growing your own fruit and vegetables. Terra Viva’s Peter Worsp tells Metropol about the holistic health benefits of this rewarding pastime.   MIND MATTERS The mental health benefits of gardening in general have been well documented in studies; ranging from early-onset dementia to hyperactive children. The studies pinpoint the calming […]

Raising the toddlers of the plant world

Also known as “vegetable confetti”, microgreens are the quickest food crop urban gardeners can grow – often as simply as in a container on your kitchen windowsill.   Not to be confused with sprouts – germinated seeds that are eaten root, seed and shoot – microgreens are the seedlings of leafy herbs and plants that […]

Gardens, gifts and café in one: Lushingtons Gardens, Gifts and Café

Spring is a time of renewal. It’s also a time to explore, to do something different, to find somewhere new to enjoy. There can be few more alluring places for a new experience than Lushingtons Garden, Gifts and Café at Tinwald, Ashburton. It’s the perfect stop for lunch and a leg stretch en route to […]

Growing self-sufficiency

Vegetable patches the country over expanded this year, as a nationwide lockdown and mile-long supermarket queues inspired many households to grow their own. And for some, the enthusiasm hasn’t waned. Here’s Metropol’s tips for planting out your vege patch for spring.   WHAT TO PLANT While it is still too early to plant traditional summer […]

Hedging your bets

Luscious additions to any garden, hedges are living walls ideal for creating privacy and shelter, filtering out noise, dividing areas or for creating an elegant garden character. When cared for well, hedges can be immaculate high-impact features. Here’s Metropol’s top tips for cultivating a lush hedge of your own.   Know your shrubbery From buxus, […]

Spring into gardening

Spring is a season of regeneration in the garden, but just like most things in life, new growth doesn’t come from nowhere. Here are Metropol’s tips for growing a luscious garden by the time the season hits its peak.     CLEAR IT UP Remove all the debris like leaves, sticks and whatever else has […]

Success is in the soil: Terra Viva

The topic of soil doesn’t sound as exciting as talking about stunning strongly-scented roses or a bumper crop of sweet strawberries, it’s actually more important. Terra Viva’s Peter Worsp tells us why.     PREPARATION IS KEY: Like most things in life, the preparation determines the end results – and this applies to success in […]

Talent for trellis: Trellis Warehouse

If you’re already preparing for the warmer months ahead and would like to install some outdoor features in your garden, then a trellis may just be the stylish answer you’ve been looking for.   For 30 years, Trellis Warehouse has been supplying Cantabrians with quality trellis products, all of which are custom made onsite at […]

Every garden needs a focal point: Grow Landscapes

Every landscape architect through time has wanted to ensure a garden’s design has a focal point, no matter the size of the space.   Creating that focal point for your garden is as simple as a visit to Grow Landscape & Lifestyle at 69 Moorhouse Avenue, where you’ll find a vast range of garden art, […]